FREAK OUT!! Martin Easley

Martin Easley is an illustrator and fine artist. He works primarily in acrylic paint and utilizes a mix of traditional paint brushes and airbrush. He has produced advertising art, book illustration, architectural illustration, and has also been commissioned to paint portrait art. His clients have included Apple Macintosh, Holland American Lines, McDonalds and Motorola.

Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Martin now lives and works in Seattle where he graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a degree in Graphic Design focusing on illustration. Although his background is in illustration, he is currently focusing on fine art and gallery exhibitions. A large portion of his work hangs in private collections.

Tell us about your current series.I'm working on a series of paintings depicting various phobias. The subject interests me because I feel our lives are shaped by the things we fear and avoid as much as they are by the things that interest us. I've currently completed 10 paintings in the series and my goal is a total of around 50. It's a long term project that I'm very passionate about, and I work on them in between other projects. I've also started a series of collaborative paintings with my wife, Mary.

Do you remember the 1970’s and if so what are three highlights of that time frame for you? This Disco series has been something I've really enjoyed. As a young man in the 70's, I was hitting the night clubs. I had the suit, but unfortunately, not the dance moves. However, the music and the atmosphere was a persistent draw for me. I left my hometown of Eugene, Oregon in 1977 and moved north to Seattle not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life. I first started pursuing the dream of being an artist when I was accepted to attend Cornish after submitting to them a portfolio of my drawings.

Tell us about the artwork/poem you are submitting for the exhibition.I created five miniature works for the disco ball installation. The intention was to capture the extravagance and passion of the disco era.

Do you listen to music while you work?For me, music has always been inspiring. It allows me stay energized as I work and helps me conceptually as well. Another source of inspiration were album covers created in the 70's featuring the works of Frank Frazetta, Roger Dean, H. R. Giger and many other talented, influential artists.

How do you see the current state of the art market in response to your body of work?I've only recently began painting with the intention of having my work shown in galleries. Up until now my work has been primarily used for print purposes. My focus is to create effective, memorable images, whether it's a book illustration, a portrait or a piece of fine art. It's an exciting time as new opportunities present themselves.